Bag top guide assembly



April 9, 1963 H. K. Fox 3,084,642

BAG TOP GUIDE ASSEMBLY a; 86a u 77 Q l f I Egg@ s4 52 77d ;7 8586 83 56 tml Filed March 21, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet l L l u: /5"? l Il l l om Tw f f l f o "l j E Htp 61- o 53 7o mi-9 /`f ils '1%. b 775 ,56 7a f 65 6 INVENTOR. 174x040 /C Fox April 9, 1963 H, K, FOX

BAG TOP GUIDE: ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 21, 1960 INI/Emol@ Hanau: A. Fox BYQQJWMQMM/ rfoawar:

3,084,642 Patented Apr. 9, 1963 3,084,642 BAG TOP GUIDE ASSEMBLY Harold K. Fox, Minneapolis, Minn., assigner to Bemis Bro. Bag Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Missouri Filed Mar. 21, 1960, Ser. No. 16,425 3 Claims. (Cl. 112-11) This invention relates to a guide assembly for closing the top of a bag as the bag top is moved therethrough. More particularly, this invention relates to a bag top guide assembly for guiding top walls of a bag into the stitching apparatus of a sewing machine as the bag is moved along a continuously operating conveyor located beneath said assembly and stitching apparatus.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved guide for guiding the top walls of a bag into apparatus to perform certain operations on the bag top walls as the bag is moved relative to the guide and said apparatus. It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved guide for moving bag top walls into the stitching apparatus of a sewing machine as the bag is being moved along by a conveyor.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new improved bag top guide for moving a bag top into the stitching apparatus after the operator `has placed the walls of a bag top together. An additional object of the invention is to provide a new and improved top guide that in cooperation with the stitching apparatus facilitates sewing a straight line a uniform distance from the top of the bag and requires less dexterity on the part of the operator in positioning and moving the bag top into the stitching apparatus.

A still additional object of this invention is to provide a new and improved bag top guide assembly for a sewing machine that gives only a plain-sewed closure on a bag. Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved bag top guide assembly for a sewing machine that gives a tape-bound sewed closure on a bag. A still further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved bag top guide assembly that forms a metal liner separating the tape from the path of the bag top and at the same time facilitates moving the bag top and the tape into the stitching apparatus of the sewing machine.

Other and further objects are those inherent in the invention herein illustrated, described in the claims, and will be apparent as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, this invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

The invention is illustrated by reference to the drawings in which the corresponding numerals refer to the same parts and in which:

FIGURE l is a fragmentary perspective view of the lirst embodiment of a sewing machine having a bag top guide assembly of this invention thereon, said view illustrating the mounting of a bag top guide assembly on a sewing machine that provides only a piain-sewed closure on the bag.

bag top guide mounting bracket forming the first embodiment of the bag top guide assembly of this invention;

FIGURE 4 is a front side vertical elevation of the bag top guide and mounting bracket illustrated in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a rear end view of the bag top guide illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical cross sectional view of the bag top guide taken along the line and looking in the direction of the arrows 6 6 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical cross sectional view of the bag top guide taken along the line and looking in the direction of the arrows 7 7 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE S is a vertical cross sectional view of the bag top guide taken along the line and looking in the direction of arrows 8-8 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 9 is a back end view of the tape folder blade assembly illustrated in FIGURE 2.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGURE l, there is illustrated a sewing machine, generally designated 10, that is supported on a pedestal (not shown) in overhanging relation to a continuous conveyor (not shown). The continuous conveyor supports the bags 11 at the `proper elevation and moves the bags through the sewing area (stitching apparatus), generally designated 14, of the machine to sew the bag top walls 12 and 13 together to provide a plain sewed closure. The sewing machine is of a type wherein each bag starts and stops the machine and automatically clips the thread -IS between bags, there being an actuator 19 adjacent the presser foot 20 of the stitching apparatus to operate the machine in the aforementioned manner. The stitching apparatus also includes a needle 17h extended through an elongated slot 17 formed in the presser foot adjacent the aperture 18a in the presser foot through which the filler cord or thread 18 is extended, the needle thread 17a passing through said slot during the stitching operation.

The first embodiment of the bag top guide assembly, generally designated 15, of this invention is secured to the sewing machine to facilitate closing the bag top walls and properly directing said bag top walls into the stitching apparatus of the machine. The bag top guide assemblyr includes a mounting bracket 22 and a bag top guide 23 (see FIGURES 3 and 4). The mounting bracket is made up of a horizontal, generally rectangular plate 25 having at one end an upwardly extending and inturning clip 26 formed integral therewith. The clip 26 is shaped to extend into and clamp in an appropriate recess on the rear side 24a of the housing 24 of the sewing machine 10. The rectangular plate is of the size and shape corresponding to the bottom wall of the housing and has a plurality of apertures 27, 28, and 29, formed therein to have appropriate structure (not shown) orr the machine extended therethrough. Formed integral with the edge of the rectangular plate opposite the ange 26 is a vertical plate 30. A horizontal angle plate 31 at one edge is formed integral with the upper edge of the vertical plate and a second edge which is at right angles to the aforementioned edge is bent upwardiy to form a mounting ange 32. A second mounting flange 33, which lies in the same plane as ange 32, is formed integral with a vertical edge of the mounting plate 30.

The vertical back side wall 37 of the bag top guide 23 is welded or otherwise secured to the mounting flanges 32, 33 so that said wall lies in a plane parallel to 'the mounting flanges and for the most part extends forwardly thereof. Formed integral with the upper edge of the back side wall is a top wall 33. The rear portion 38a of the top wall is in the shape of a narrow elongated rectangle while the front portion 38h is generally trapezoidal in shape, the front edge of the front portion being curved. The intermediate portion 38e ot' thc tcp wall at the edge 37 opposite the rear side wall is concavely curved from the front section 38h to the back section 38a. The front and side edges of the front portion 38b are bent upwardly to form a smoothly curved ange 38d.

Formed integral with the edge of the rear and intermediate portions of the top wall to depend therefrom is a front side wall 39. The front portion of the front side wall is convexiy curved from the top wall downwardly while the rear portion of the front side wall has a curved cutout 40 formed therein. When the bag top guide assembly is mounted on the housing, the cutout is adjacent the presser foot and permits observation of the top portion of the bag being sewed, while at the same time the rear portion of the assembly provides structure to retain the bag top wall 13 adjacent the bag top wall 12. An outturned flange 41 is formed integral with the bot tom edge of the front side wall and extends forwardly to form a continuation of tiange 38d. As may be noted in FIGURE l, the front side wall in horizontal cross section is curved similarly as the adjacent edge of the top wall. The front portion 38a is bent at an angle to slope upwardly and forwardly from the intermediate portion 38e (see FIGURE 4). The rear side wall 37 in a vertical plane is congurated such that the forward edge thereof from the juncture with the top wall is curved to extend downwardly and somewhat rearwardly through 37a, thence through portion 37b it is rather sharply convexly curved to extend to an elevation at point 37e lower than the horizontal plate. The bottom edge of the rear side wall from 37e rearwardly is gently curved in an upward direction to point 37d. Form 37d, the bottom wall extends in a generally horizontal direction to a position just rearwardly of the vertical plate 30. At this portion of the rear side wall, a cutout 37e is formed to facilitate mounting the bag top guide adjacent structure on the housing Z4. It is noted in FIGURE 4, that the bottom edge of the rear side wall is at a lower elevation than the lower portions of the front side wall, and that formed integral with the bottom edge of the rear side wall is an upturned ange 42.

The structure of the bag top guide assembly 1S having been described, the operation thereof will now be set forth. After the assembly is secured to the housing by clip 26 and a screw extended through aperture 29 into the -housing and a bag 11 has been filled and positioned on the conveyor so that the forward edges 16 of the bag are facing in the direction of movement of the conveyor (arrow 44), the bag is moved rearwardly toward the sewing machine. As the bag is moved rearwardly, the operator places the bag top walls 12 and 13 together and against the front portion of the rear side wall 37 (portion extending forwardly of the front side wall). By providing the front portion 41 which extends forwardly of the front side wall 39, the proper positioning of the bag walls against the bag top guide is greatly facilitated. Further, by sloping the front portion 38b of the top wall forwardly and upwardly, less diiculty is encountered in properly placing the bag top walls 12 and 13 than if the top Wall were located only in a horizontal plane, it being noted that the bag top guide is mounted at an elevation relative to the conveyor so that top edges of the bag top walls abut against the undersurface of the rear portion 38a of the top wall. The flange portions of the bag top guide aid in directing the bag top walls inwardly between the front and rear side walls 37, 39, present smooth surfaces against which the bag top walls are likely to strike so as to minimize the chance of damaging the bag top Walls as they pass through the bag guide and add rigidity to the guide. Also, the aforementioned relatively smooth surfaces minimize the danger of the operator injuring himself on the bag top guide as he is closing the bag top walls and properly positioning the bag top walls to enter the bag guide.

As the bag is advanced by the conveyor, the front edges of the bag top walls move inwardly into the converging front throat portion 45 formed by the front and rear side walls 37, 39 (see FIGURE 7). Since the throat portion converges, the bag walls, if already not in close proximity to one another, are forced closely adjacent to one another so that as they exit from the rear of the throat portion at 46, the bag walls are within close proximity with one another and are in a position to be sewed (see FIGURES 5-7).

As the front edges 16 of the bag are moved to pass the cutout 40, the front edge of the bag engages the actuator 19 to actuate the sewing operation prior to the time the bag is adjacent the needle and thereby pro' vides the threaded end 47. The top edge portions of the bag top walls are held adjacent one another by the bag top guide at 47 even after the lower portions of the bag top wall in the area of the cutout are not engaged by the guide. However, the aforementioned lower portions very shortly enter between the presser foot Z0 and a second shoe (not shown) on the housing that holds said lower portions together as the bag is sewed closed. The stitching continues to operates until the rear vertical edge of the bag passes therethrough, and then the thread 18 may be automatically clipped.

The structure and operation of the first embodiment of this invention having been set forth, the structure and operation of the second embodiment of this invention will now be set forth. The second embodiment 50 includes a Sewing machine 51 (see FIGURE 2) which may be generally of the same construction as the sewing machine 10 except for differences more fully set forth hereinafter. T-he sewing machine 51 which has stitching apparatus 60 differs from the sewing machine 10 in that it contains structure to provide for a tape bound sewed closure instead of the plain sewed closure made with the machine 10, said stitching apparatus 60 including a needle 65 and a presser foot 64 having an elongated slot 62 through which the needle 65 is extended and through which the needle thread 65a passes during the stitching operation. The presser foot has an aperture 53a adjacent slot 62 through which the filler cord or thread 53 is extended. The sewing machine is provided with actuator 63 that abuts against the bag to actuate the sewing operation in a manner similar to actuator 19.

In order to provide for a tape bound sewed closure, the machine has a tape roll supporting member (not shown) to dispense tape 52 as it is used. In order to properly fold the tape over -the top 4bag walls 56, 57 of the bag 55 as said walls are advanced through the stitching apparatus by a continuous conveyor (not shown), a conventional tape folder blade assembly, generally designated S4, is secured to Ithe suppont member S9 by a pair of transversely extending bolts 66 to be positioned in front of the stitching apparatus 60 and directly above the path of travel of the bag S5 as it is conveyed by said conveyor to the sewing machine. The support member S9 is secured to the housing 61 of the sewing machine in a conventional manner.

The tape folder blade assembly S4 includes an elongated, horizontal, longitudinally extending folder blade support 70 (see FIGURES 2 and 9). The folder blade support is shaped to have a longitudinally extending groove 71 formed in the underportion thereof, the depth H of the groove gradually increasing from the front end of the folder blade support to the rear end thereof. A transversely extending spacer 72 is mounted on an appropriate aperture formed in the forward end of the blade support, there being a transversely extending bolt 75 located in a space-r for retaining collars 74 in abutti relation to either end of the spacer. The transverse spai ing of the aforementioned collars is slightly greater than the width of the tape S2 and thus provide guides TD properly direct the tape beneath the folder blade assem* bly. A short folder blade 76 and .a long folder blade 77 be sewn on the top of the bag.

are secured at their upper edgeV portions to opposite vertical sides of the foider blade support in depending relation thereto by spaced nuts and bolts 78. The folder blades 76, 77 at their forward ends 76a, 77a are widely spaced, but converge toward one another in a rearward direction to form a throat 79 at their rearward ends 76e, 77C respectively. The lower ends 76d, 77d of the folder blades are bent inwardly and upwardly to form the upturned flanges 76h, 77h respectively.

Thus the forward edges of portions 76a, 77a approach being located in a horizontal plane while the rear edge portions of the blades approach Vbeing located in spaced vertical planes. The blades a-re smoothly curved from the aforementioned edges to the rear edges.

The bag top guide assembly of the second embodiment includes a mounting bracket (not shown) and a bag top guide 83 of the same general construction as 'the mounting bracket 22 and the bag top guide 23 as previously ldescribed with respect to the assembly 15. The mounting bracket positions the ha-g top guide 83 within close proximity of the folder blade assembly 54 and at a slightly lower elevation.

Since, for the most part, the bag top guide 83 is of the general construction as the bag top guide 23, the structure of guide 83 will only be briey set forth. The bag top guide 83 includes a. rear side wall 84, a front side wall 85 and a top wall 86. The aforementioned walls 84, 85 and 86 are generally of the same configuration as the corresponding parts of bag top guide 23, the major difference being that the walls are longer longitudinally than said corresponding parts of the guide 23. Also the rearward portions of the aforementioned walls of guide 83 may be of slightly different configuration in onder to properly space said walls from adjacent portions of the sewing head and housing.

It is to be noted that the front end portion 86a of the top wall is at approximately the same elevation as the collars 74, and extends a substantial distance forwardly of the collars; and that the spacer 72 is located at a slightly higher elevation than the adjacent portion of the top wall. Similarly, the back portion of the top wall is closely adjacent the lower surface of the blade support 70 while the front and rear side walls are closely adjacent the corresponding portions ofthe lontg and short folder blades respectively. The back end of the bag top guide is slightly forward of the back end of the folder blade assembly.

The structure of the second embodiment of this invention having been described, the operation thereof will now be briefly set forth. The tape 52 is fed downwardly and thence rearwardly beneath the spacer 72. As the tape is extended beneath and rearwardly ofthe spacer, it is folded by -the rearwardly converging and downwardly diver-ging folder blades 76, 77 said tape being supported in close proximity to the folder blade assembly by the upper surface of the bag top guide and the side walls thereof. The transverse outer edges 52A of the tape passed between the respective upturned flanges 76h, 77h, and the adjacent portions of the folder blades while the center portion of the tape is within close proximity of the groove 71, said groove and flanges insuring that the tape is properly folded and guided toward the stitching apparatus. From the folder blade assembly, the tape passes into the stitching apparatus.

The bag 55 is moved in the direction of arrow 89 by a conveyor (not shown) and the bag top walls 56, S7 are formed by an operator and fed into the bag top guide 83 in a manner similar to that previously described with reference to bag 11. As the forward edge 58 of the bag emerges from the rear end of the bag top guide, it engages the actuator 63 to actuate the stitching apparatus. At `a1' proxirnately the same time that the forward edge of the bag emerges from the bag top guide, it is within close proximity of the throat 79 which retains the advanced end of the tape in a folded condition and in position to Further movement of the bag in the direction of arrow 89 results in the folded tape being sewed on the top of the bag walls 56, 57 to form a tape-bound sewed bag closure. After the bag has passed through the stitching apparatus, the actuator deactuates the sewing head and appropriate mechanism is actuated to automatically clip the tape 52 and thread 53.

An advantage derived from using the combination of the folder -blade assembly and the bag top guide assembly is that the bag top becomes a metal liner separating the tape from the path of travel of the bag top as the tape and bag top walls are moved into the stitching apparatus and this results in an easier, friction free feeding of the bag top. At the same :time the tape is held in position so that the folded tape contacts the bag top at the entry to the sewing machine.

When using either embodiment of the invention described heretofore, a straight sewing line at a uniform distance from the top of the bag is more consistently obtained .than is possible with structure of the prior art. Further, the bag tops are consistently folded togcther in a proper condition that facilitates the starting of the stitching apparatus. Also since the bag tops are properly held together, less dexterity on the part of the operator is required to properly fold the bag top walls so that they will move into the stitching apparatus. Additionally with both embodiments, in many cases, the operator can release the bag top completely when the stitching apparatus, starts, and .the bag top will continue through the sewing machine unaided and thereby permit the operator to start preparing the bag top of the next bag for the sewing operation. That is, with the bag .top guide assembly, the operator only has to form the lbag top, and as the conveyor moves the bag along, hold the bag top up until the bag -top contacts the actuator to start the sewing machine.

Even though the drawings and the description for the most part describe the bag top guide assembly with reference to the particular type of sewing machine, namely Union Special Sewing Machines sold by Bemis, it is to be understood that the mounting bracket may be properly modified to support a bag top guide assembly in proper position so that said bag top guide may be used with other makes of sewing machines. Also, it is to be understood `that the various flanges and cutout portions of the bag top guide may be modified in accordance with requirements of the structure on which the bag top guide assembly is to be mounted, and thus the structure as illustrated, per se, does not constitute a limitation on this invention other than as limited by the claims.

As many widely apparent different embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the specific embodiments herein.

What I claim is:

l. In a sewing machine having stitching apparatus including a presser foot having a slot therein and a needle extended through said slot for sewing opposite bag top walls `together as the bag top walls are moved therethrough, the improvement being a bag top guide assembly for directing the opposite bag top walls into the stitching apparatus in proper condition to be sewed, said assembly including a bag ytop guide and means mountable on the sewing machine for mounting the bag top guide at approximately the same elevation as the bag top walls, said bag top guide including spaced, generally vertical, elongated front and rear side walls that, through at least a portion of their length, converge in a direction toward the stitching apparatus and means connecting said side walls, the last ymentioned means including a top wall formed integral with the top edges of the side walls, said top wall having a generally horizontal portion mountable adjacent the stitching apparatus at an elevation just above the bag top edges, said rear side wall and top wall being sufficiently elongated relative to the front side wall to extend forwardly of the stitching apparatus a substantially greater distance than the front side wall to facilitate positioning the bag top walls for entry between the converging side wall portions and said front side wall having a rear portion extending rearwardly alongside the presser foot to retain the bag top walls adjacent one another as they are sewed, said front side wall rear portion having a cut out that permits observation of the top portion of the bag as it is being sewed.

2. For directing the opposite bag top walls into the stitching apparatus of a sewing machine in proper condition to be sewed as the bag is moved in a longitudinally rearward direction wherein said apparatus includes a presser foot having a slot therein and a needle extend through said slot, a Ybag top guide assembly comprising a bag top guide and means mountable on the sewing machine for mounting vthe bag top guide at approximately the same elevation as the bag top walls, said bag top guide including a front side wall, a rear side wall spaced from the front side wall and a top wall closely adjacent the bag top edges and having one transverse edge joined to the front side wall and an opposite transverse edge joined to the rear side wall, said walls being longitudinally elongated and said side walls converging in a rearward direction `to move the bag top walls closely adjacent one another as a :bag top is moved therebetween and having front edges that continuously extend in a downwardly and rearwardly direction, said front side wall having a rear portion extending rearwardly alongside the presser foot to retain the bag top walls adjacent one another, said rear portion having a curved cut out portion that permits observation of the top portion of the bag as it is being sewed.

3. A bag top guide assembly for directing the opposite 'bag top walls into sewing machine stitching apparatus, which includes a presser foot having a slot therein and a needle extended through said slot, in proper condition to be sewed as the bag is moved in a longitudinal rearward direction comprising a longitudinally elongated bag -top guide and means for mounting said guide on said machine in position for the bag top walls to move through the guide just prior to moving .to the stitching apparatus, said guide including a rear side wall, a front side wall spaced from the rear side wall and having a rear portion extending rearwardly alongside the presser foot to retain the bag top walls adjacent one another as they are sewed, said front side wall rear portion having a cut out that permits observation of the top portion of the bag as it is being sewed and a top wall connected at one transverse edge to the front side wall and at the opposite transverse edge to the rear side wall, said top wall having a rear portion adjacent the stitching apparatus that is generally horizontal and at approximately the same elevation as the top edges of the bag as the bag is passed through the stitching apparatus and upwardly,

,and forwardly inclined front portion connected to the top wall rear portion on the top wall side of the rear portion opposite the stitching apparatus and bein-g of a length to extend a substantial distance forwardly of the front side wall, said transverse edges of the front portion of the top wall and adjacent portions of the side walls diverging from one another in a forward direction and said rear wall bein-g of a substantial-ly longer length in a forward direction than the front side wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,097,448 Cundall et al. Nov. 2, 1937 2,467,680 McHugh Apr. 19, 1949 2,593,589 McIntyre Apr. 22, 1952 2,847,955 Peterson Aug. 19, 1958 2,910,949 Greisman Nov. 3, 1959 

1. IN A SEWING MACHINE HAVING STITCHING APPARATUS INCLUDING A PRESSER FOOT HAVING A SLOT THEREIN AND A NEEDLE EXTENDED THROUGH SAID SLOT FOR SEWING OPPOSITE BAG TOP WALLS TOGETHER AS THE BAG TOP WALLS ARE MOVED THERETHROUGH, THE IMPROVEMENT BEING A BAG TOP GUIDE ASSEMBLY FOR DIRECTING THE OPPOSITE BAG TOP WALLS INTO THE STITCHING APPARATUS IN PROPER CONDITION TO BE SEWED, SAID ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A BAG TOP GUIDE AND MEANS MOUNTABLE ON THE SEWING MACHINE FOR MOUNTING THE BAG TOP GUIDE AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME ELEVATION AS THE BAG TOP WALLS, SAID BAG TOP GUIDE INCLUDING SPACED, GENERALLY VERTICAL, ELONGATED FRONT AND REAR SIDE WALLS THAT, THROUGH AT LEAST A PORTION OF THEIR LENGTH, CONVERGE IN A DIRECTION TOWARD THE STITCHING APPARATUS AND MEANS CONNECTING SAID SIDE WALLS, THE LAST MENTIONED MEANS INCLUDING A TOP WALL FORMED INTEGRAL WITH THE TOP EDGES OF THE SIDE WALLS, SAID TOP WALL HAVING A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL PORTION MOUNTABLE ADJACENT THE STITCHING APPARATUS AT AN ELEVATION JUST ABOVE THE BAG TOP EDGES, SAID REAR SIDE WALL AND TOP WALL BEING SUFFICIENTLY ELONGATED RELATIVE TO THE FRONT SIDE WALL TO EXTEND FORWARDLY OF THE STITCHING APPARATUS A SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER DISTANCE THAN THE FRONT SIDE WALL TO FACILITATE POSITIONING THE BAG TOP WALLS FOR ENTRY BETWEEN THE CONVERGING SIDE WALL PORTIONS AND SAID FRONT SIDE WALL HAVING A REAR PORTION EXTENDING REARWARDLY ALONGSIDE THE PRESSER FOOT TO RETAIN THE BAG TOP WALLS ADJACENT ONE ANOTHER AS THEY ARE SEWED, SAID FRONT SIDE WALL REAR PORTION HAVING A CUT OUT THAT PERMITS OBSERVATION OF THE TOP PORTION OF THE BAG AS IT IS BEING SEWED. 